Flotation-machine.



F. B. KOLLBERG & M. KRAU.

FLOTATION MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Amm. 1915. LMS?, Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lill/111111,17)

F. B. KOLLBERG & M. KRAUT.

FLOTATION MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AIIG.2. 1915.

Lma?. I

-. p. ED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

FREDERICK B. KOLLBERG AND MAX KEAUT, OF BISBE, ARIZONA.

i NOTATION-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Mar. 7,1916.

Application filed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,218.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK B. KoLL- BERG and MAX KRAUT, citizens of the United States, and residents of the town of Bisbee, county of Cochise, and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flotation-Machines, of which -the following is a specification.

consideration, in the matter of capacity as well as in the reduction of power consumption. 5 y I A' further object is .the production of a flotation machine which will be of simple. con-v` struction and hence of low cost to construct.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

- With these objects in view the invention consists generally in the employment of a drum or cylinder for effecting spraying4 in the spraying chamber ofthe machine and further in the provisionof meansvfor controlling the introduction'of air supply'to f the spraying chamber to greater advantage. Through experiment with spraying wheels of the bladed or vaned type in conjunctionv with flotation appa-ratuswe haveffound that. the thickness of layers of pulp skimmedol the surface of the pulp level inside the spraying chamber bears a'certain proportion to the number of revolutions of the wheel and'-A the number of blades with which the wheel' is provided'. With a given quantity of pulp to be treated and a given speed forthe sprayi ing wheel, it is obvious that the greater the number of blades, the greater will be the number of skimmings per revolution, and

therefore, with a given rate of inflow'. of

pulp, the greater the number of skimmings the finer will be the layers of pulp skimmed, and consequently the larger the surface of pulp exposed for contact with air and therefore, the greater the useful effect of the energy employed. It appears then, that to obtain a maximum useful effect, a large number of blades should be employedin the spraying wheel. At the'l'imit of such large number of blades. a drum or cylinder is simply formed by the surface of said blades,

which rotating in the spraying chamber, should result for reasons outlined above,v in,' a maximum economical effect." But .as the v power of adhesion of the pulp to a theoreti-l cally smooth surface of a cylinder or .drum .'60,` would be too small for practical purposes,

this surface is roughened, such a cylinder forming the principal subject matter of theA present application. .j

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partially sectional front elei vation of a flotation apparatusembodying the lnvention, Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the sprayingy I chamber ofthe apparatus, Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section of the apparatus, Figs.,4, '5, 6 and 7 are detail sectional fragments of the spraying drum showing Various forms. which may be ployed, and Fig. 8, a detail section illustrating a modified form of casing for the drum. The preferred form of construction, as

illustrated in the drawings, comprises an elongated substantially rectangular spraying chamber 1 mounted upon suitable supporting framework 2.' Extending along one side'of thechamber land substantially co-extensivetherewith is a /frothing chamber or box 3 which .is open at its upper side and`provided with an inclined bottom 4. l 'Communicating withl one endV of the spraying' chamber 1 is an entrance opening treated, is introduced into said chamber. Leading. from the bottom of the frothing. chamber 3, at the opposite end of the ma-V chine is a discharge pipe 6 through which the demineralized pulp or tailings is discharged.

Formed in one side of thev chamber 1, adjacent the upper edge thereof, is a plurality of spaced outlet openings 7 frcm which lead 100 downwardly extending passages 8 which communicate at their lower ends with the chamber 3, as shown. y

Arranged below thel lower ends ofpassages 8I is a baiiiel board or flange 9 which ,105

serves to deflect the pulp discharged through said passages outwardly in order to give a. larger area for the. mineral froth to rise-to the surface. Provided in the bottom of the frothing chamber 3 isa plurality of verti- 110 esv orv passagev 5 through which the pulp, to be 'y cally extending -partitions 10, the lower ends l of passages 8 terminating below the plane of the upper edges of said partitions, as shown in'Fig. 3. f

Leading vfrom the bottom of frothing chamber 3 to the bottom of spraying chamber 1 is a plurality of spaced` return openings 11 which are controlled by a sliding gate valve 12 having a notched lower edge to correspond with said openings 11. Said valve 12 is manually adjusted through the medium of a hand wheel 13 coperating with one end thereof. A

Arranged in the spraying chamber 1 is the spraying element or drum 14, the specilic construction of which is the subject matter of a divisional application, Serial No.

56,694, led October 19, 1915. Said drum consists of .a cylindrical wall 17 which is bolted, as shown, to disks 18 fixed to a shaft I 16 extending centrally through the spraying chamber and having its ends suitably mounted in bearings provided at the ends of said chamber. The periphery of the wall 17 is roughened by arranging thereon a plurality of closely spaced longitudinally extending riliies 19, as shown in Fig. 4, or correspondingly arranged recesses `20, as shown in.Fig.'5, or by providing said wall with closely arranged perforations 21, as

shown in Fig. 6, or both rites and perfora# tions as shown in Fig. 7.

Provided in the chamber 1, at the lower edges of the outlet openings 7, is an inwardly projecting iange 22 which serves'to direct the spray formedin said chamber and thrown from the spraying element, toward said outlet openings 7. Communicating with the upper end of the spraying chamber is a plurality of air supply pipes 23, passagethrougii which is controlled by suitable valves 24. Arranged in chamber 1, below the lower ends of air supply pipes 23,

is a detlecting board 25 so arranged that the air which is supplied to the chamber 1 will be introduced into said chamber adjacent the vperiphery of the spraying element, tangentially thereto, and in a direction` toward the outlet openings 7.

Oil supply pipes 26 are employed, communicating with the interiorjofschamber 1, controlled by valves 27.

A casing 28 is arranged about the rear or inward portion of drum 17, as indicated in Fig. 3, to prevent spraying of the pulp through this portion of the travel. To perfeet the mixing of the oil with the pulp, longitudinal riftles are provided on the interior surface of casing 28, as indicatedin Fig. 8. Y

In operation the spraying element or drum 14 is rotated at a suitable speed. The pulp level inside the spraying chamber is maintained by means' of the gate valve 12, at such a height that the spraying drum will slightly immersed in vthe-pulp. vIn the rotation of the drum, a certain quantity of the 'pulp adheres to the peripheral surface'of the drum in a thin layer or film, thus exposing a maximum of surface for contact withair. l The pulp is carriedaround with the rapidly revolving drum, and is thrown o tangentially by centrifugal force at the highest point vin the form of a ne spray which is discharged through the opening 7 into the frothing chamber. thrown by centrifugal force against thecasing` 28 will be projected back onto the l drum by the action of the casing, thus preventing useless agitation or churning in the Any pulp spraylng .chamber and causing the immediate discharge in the form of a spra of all pulp adhering to the periphery o the drum. The'rililes on the interior surface of casin 28 tend to cause thorough mixing of the oil and pulp, thus facilitating the process and dispensing with the necessity of pre.- viously mixing the oil and pulp. The spray in being thrown of the surface of the drum entrains in its passage to the frothing chamber a quantity of air, which is required to 'raise the mineral froth formed to the surface. Through the 'provision of the defiecting board 25 arranged as described, the air supplied to the spraying chamber is introduced into said chamber right at the point or line where the pulp is thrown off the surface of the revolving drum. Thel pulp in its passage to the outlet opening 7 induces a strong suction, the air being taken from the space between the deiecting board 25 and the upper wall of the spraying chamber, along the entire length of said space, and in this manner an ample supply of air is insured at the place most needed, the air lintroduced being automatically controlled by the suction or demand created for the same. The perferations in the periphery of the drum, in effect, produce a certain roughening thereof and also permit escape of air and pulp from the interior of the drum. As the druml rotates centrifugal force is imparted to the air or pulp within the same and thus this air and pulp are forced out-` wardly through said perforations adding to .the aerating effect of the device and insuring the utilization of any pulp which may enter the drum when stationary. It will be noted that air may readily enter the interior of the drum through the hollow drip cups at each end of chamber 1.

rl'he spraying drum employed extends practically the entire length of the spraying chamber, thus utilizing the entire length of said chamber for spraying purposes. All of the pulp picked up by the -revolving drum and sprayed therefrom is immediately discharged through the openings `7 and thus churning of the pulp inside the spraying chamber completely obviated.A A maximum tion. `We, therefore, do not Wish to be limit-V ed to the precise details of construction set y"supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of` ksaid spraying clement and in the direction of said outlet opening, substantially as defrothing chamber; a pluralityof yalved air` forth, but desire to avail 'ourselves of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention what We claim as new and desire lto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communicating with said spraying chamber; and means in said chamber for directing the Huid supplied to said spraying chamber to- Ward said outlet opening, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, 'there being an outlet opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communicating with said spraying chamber; and means in said spraying chamber for directing the Huid supplied to said spraying chamber in a direction substantially tan- -gentially of said spraying element and toward said outlet opening, described.Y

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening through Which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supplycommunicating with saidspraying chamber; and means' in said spraying chamber rfor introducing intogsaid spraying chamber the fluid substantiallyy as scribed.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary sprayfmg element kin said chamber: a frothing chamber, there being-an outlet .opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communicating with said spraying chamber;` and means in said spraying chamber for intro- 1 ducing into said spraying chamber the fluid supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of tion of said said spraying element, substantially tangentially thereto, and in the direction of said outlet opening, substantially as described.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprislng a spraying chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening in one side of said spraying chamberl adjacent the top thereof through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communicating with the upper porspraying chamber; and means in the upper portion of said spraying chamber for directing the fluid supplied to said spraying chamber toward said outlet opening, substantially as described.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening in one side of said spraying chamber adjacent the top thereof through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communicating with the upper portion of said spraying chamber; and a deectorI board in the upper portion of said spraying chamber for introducing into said spraying chamber the fluid supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying element, substantially tangentially thereto and in the directionv of said outlet opening, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening through which the spray created -in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass tol said frothing chamber; a valved air supply pipe communicating with said spraying chamber; and means in said spraying chamber for intrcducing into said .spraying chamber the air supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying element` substantially tangentially thereto andin the direction of said' outlet opening, substantially as described.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraysupply pipes communicating With said spraying chamber; and means in said spray-f ing chamber for introducing into said spraying chamber the air supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying ele'- ment, substantially tangentially thereto and in the direction of said outlet opening, substantially as described.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying drum in saidchamber; a frothing chamchamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; means for introducing air into said spraying chamber adjacent the periphery of said drum and substantially tangentially thereto; and a casing closely surrounding tially as described.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an loutlet opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; anda casing loosely surrounding a portion of said spraying element i extending from the under side thereof to the point at which the spray in leaying said element passes'toward said opening to said frothing chamber, substanti ally as described. A12. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber.; a rotary spray-- ing drum in said chamber; a frothing chamT ber. there which the spray created in said Spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; and a casing loosely surrounding' a portion of said spraying drum extending which the spray in leaving said passes towardv said opening to said frothing chamber. substantially'as described,

13. Apparatus of the class described com.

prising a spraying chamber; a rotary spray; ing element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there beingv an outlet opening through which the spray created in said eating with said spraying chamber; means i in said spraying chamberfor directing the fluid supplied to said spraying chamber in a direction substantially tangentially of said spraying element and toward said outlet opening; and a casinglooselv surrounding a portion Y ing from the under. side thereof'- to said last mentioned means, substantially as described.'

14. Apparatus ofthe class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary'spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening s through which the spray createdin said 65 spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said plied thereto adjacent'the perip of said outlet opening; and

la portion of said drum, substan-- -ing element inA said chamber; '.chambeE-there being an outlet opening in being an outlet opening through from the under side'thereofto vthe point at' `chamberfor introducing into said'spraying rection of sald'outlet opening; and a casing spraying chamber is adapted to pass `to said;

frotbing chamber; a Huid supply communi;

of said spraying element extend` frothing chamber; afluid' supply communieating with said spraying chamber; means in sald spraying chamber for introducing into said spraying chamber thlfiiuid supspraying element and in the direction of lsaid a casing loosely surrounding aportion of said spraying element extending from the under side thereof" to said last mentioned means, substantially as described. I

1 5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing' chamber, there being an outlet opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to pass to said frothing chamber; a fluid supply communieating with said spraying chamber; and means in said spraying chamber for introducing into said spraying chamber the iiuid supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying element; substantially' 'tangentially thereto, and in the direction of said outlet opening; and a casingloosely surrounding a portion of said spraymgele- .ment extending f-romV the under side thereof to said last.v mentioned `means, as described. y

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraya frothing substantially one sidejof said spraying chamber adjacent the top thereof through which the spra;7 100 'created in said spraying chamber is adapted .Pass

l to said frothingv chamber; a fluid supply communicating with the Supper-.portion'fof said spraying chamber; `a deflector I board in the upper portion of said spraying chamber the uid supplied thereto adjacent theperiphery of said spraying element. sub-j stantially tangentally thereto and 1nA the diclosely surrounding a portion of said spraying element extending-from the ,under 'side thereof ;to said Ldeector board, substantially s described;

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element V,in said chamber; a`frothing chamber, there being" an outlet opening through which the; spray created in said spraying chamber is" adapted to pass to said frothingchamber; a valved 'air supply pipe communicating with said spraying chamber: means in said spraying chamber for introducinar into said spraying chamber the air supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying element. substantially tangentially thereto and lin thi? direction of said outlet opening; and. a casing loosely surrounding a portion of Asaigll'. spraying clef ment extending from the under side thereof to said last mentioned means, substantially as described.

18. Apparatus of the class described cornprising a spraying chamber; a rotary spraying element in said chamber; a frothing chamber, there being an outlet opening through which the spray created in said spraying chamber is adapted to passto said frothing Chamber; a plurality of Valved air supply pipes communicating with said spraying chamber; means in said spraying chamber for introducing into said spraying chamber the air supplied thereto adjacent the periphery of said spraying element, substantially'tangentially thereto and in the direction of said outlet opening; and a casing loosely surrounding a portion of said spraying element extending from the under side thereof to said last mentioned means, substantially as described. y

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK B. KOLLBERG. MAX KRAUT. Witnesses:

FRED. SUTTER, GEO. J, REARDON. 

